Fuel availability in Oxfordshire has fallen to its lowest point since the Just Stop Oil protests began on April 1st.
Petrol stations, and in turn motorists across Oxfordshire, are feeling the effects of a diminished supply of fuel caused by environmental protesters blocking major oil terminals across the country over the past 11 days. The activists have been protesting around at least 10 major terminals, including in Essex, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire, Birmingham and London.
However, the government stated that just one terminal was out of action on Sunday afternoon, and that local police forces were working with the depots to ensure deliveries of fuel could be maintained. Further, on Monday morning, a spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy claimed that all depots were now operational.
Despite these claims, petrol stations in Oxfordshire are running on empty. A store worker in the BP in Yarnton said: “We haven’t got any. We’re waiting for suppliers to let us know when it’s coming, we’ve been out of fuel since yesterday.”
While another, working at Horspath Service Station said: “We’re out of fuel at the moment, waiting for a delivery, which will be here sometime this week.”
Other garages seem to have employed preservation tactics to stop themselves running out of fuel, but these have not been effective. The store worker at Texaco in Chipping Norton said: “We tried to hold some fuel back, and even imposed a £30 spending limit, but it got completely out of control and at the moment we have no fuel.”
She added: “A tanker will be coming today, although it was expected yesterday.”
Severe delays in deliveries have been commonplace since the protests began, with some garages waiting several days before receiving any fuel. A store worker at the BP on Launton Road said: “It’s quite bad. All we have is Ultimate. We’ve got a delivery tonight, but at the moment we have no diesel or petrol. The tanker is a day late, and the one before this was 4 days late.”
Petrol stations with green markers have fuel available, amber have some types available and red have no fuel available.
Oxford’s Welcome Break Services are also out of fuel, as is the Sainsburys in Kidlington, and the BP on A40 Woodstock Road.
The claims about major terminals becoming operational again seem to be filtering down however, as the Launton Road store worker added: “Head office says things are getting back to normal now.”
A few garages are still stocked up on fuel, including Gulf Empire in Bicester and the Little Waitrose Shell garage in Headington. Others made brief references saying things like: “All I can say is that we are open.”
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok
Got a story for us? Send us your news and pictures here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here